SEOUL, Dec. 11 (Yonhap) -- North Korea is believed to be disassembling a long-range rocket, a senior military source in Seoul said Tuesday, a day after Pyongyang announced it will extend its 13-day launch window due to technical problems.
According to analysis of the latest satellite image, scientists and workers have begun taking apart the three-stage rocket from the launch pad at the Dongchang-ri site in the country's northwest.

   "We detected the signs of (North Korea) breaking apart the rocket at the Dongchang-ri launch site. It seems that the North's trying to fix technical problems," the source said, asking anonymity, without elaborating.

   The source said the North is expected to go ahead with a launch after repair works are completed.

   The latest development comes after the North's state media said Monday it will extend the 13-day window by one week until Dec. 29 to fix a "technical deficiency" in the first-stage control engine module of the rocket.

   ejkim@yna.co.kr
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